The New Baby (don't worry it isn't alive)

I have a dressage saddle I like after many trial and errors. However, I don't love riding babies in dressage saddles. I much preffer getting my stittups up a bit. I feel more secure and better able to keep with with the drunken trajectory and variable tempo of big gangly youngsters. It is also easier to keep up off a young growing back. I bought an Ainsley so I would have something to trail ride in and work on two point. I didn't feel like I should go all out with my dream saddle (Black Country). I hadn't even jumped yet so who knows if I will like it as much as I remember. And maybe Dickie won't have any interest in jumping. Then we would have a fancy jump saddle just to tool around the trails. 

The Ainsley isn't a fancy saddle but is in great conditional, built to last, and fits him really well. Sadly, I didnt' didn't feel all that solid in it. I assumed it was just me and my noodly out of shape legs. I tried to two point on him and made it half a lap before my legs started flailing like I was having a seizure. I assumed baby horse + out of shape was the cause and I just needed to get my shit together. Last week I had a lesson on bad ass Frankie horse in trainer's Black Country. Frankie is a magic horse that anyone could two point so I didn't realize how much her saddle was helping me. But last week I actually went over fences for the first time in YEARS (that deserves it's own post). I was a mess in many ways but my legs was rock solid and I felt melded to the horse. I mentioned I might like to start looking for a different jump saddle sooner rather than with next years tax return. Magically trainer found one for a steal of a price. 

I tried it on Dickie and it fits!!! He will probably grow out of it by next year but I will easily be able to get my money out of it and replace it with a wider saddle. Dickie moved well in it. He moved out and even asked to canter a few times so I think he likes it. I LOVE IT!! I felt like a tiger in that saddle. We rode outside for the first time in months and he gave me some attitude. My legs didn't even move. It was amazing. I am soooo glad I went for it. And did I mention how gorgeous it is? Tomorrow is our first real off the property trail ride. Can't wait to get in my new saddle.